Nitida saga (medieval manuscript spelling) or NÃÂtÃÂða saga (normalised Old Norse and modern Icelandic spelling), also known as NÃÂtÃÂða saga frægu ('the saga of NÃÂtÃÂða the renowned') is a fictional late medieval Icelandic romance saga thought to have been composed in Iceland in the fourteenth century. This saga is about a maiden-king named Nitida, who rules over France, and who is pursued by kings and princes from such faraway places as Constantinople, India, and a place the saga calls the Land of the Saracens. It is thought to be a direct response to Klári saga: in Klári saga, the main female protagonist, Serena, is brutally punished for her initial refusal to marry the hero Klárus, whereas the heroine of Nitida saga is portrayed much more favourably. Ethnicity, travel, and geography play important roles in the saga, and questions of gender and power, while magic, trickery, and deception are also prominent.
In the words of Sheryl McDonald Werronen,
<blockquote>The romance begins by describing the maiden-king NÃÂtÃÂða, ruler of France. She travels from Paris to Apulia to visit her foster mother Egidia, and then to the strange island of Visio, from which she obtains magical stones. On her return to France, NÃÂtÃÂða brings her foster-brother Hléskjöldur with her, to help defend the kingdom. NÃÂtÃÂða now refuses a string of suitors. First is Ingi of Constantinople, who returns twice after being refused: to abduct first NÃÂtÃÂða (she escapes through magic) and then, mistakenly, a disguised maidservant. The next suitors are sons of Soldán of Serkland. Foreseeing their arrival, NÃÂtÃÂða fortifies her castle and has her foster-brother Hléskjöldur defeat them and their armies before they ever see her. Livorius of India tries next. Aware of NÃÂtÃÂðaâÂÂs reputation for outwitting previous suitors, he wastes no time in bringing her straight to India. She escapes by magic and takes LivoriusâÂÂs sister SýjalÃÂn with her back to France in retaliation. Now Soldán of Serkland is set on avenging his sonsâ deaths. Foreseeing his plan, NÃÂtÃÂða sends Hléskjöldur to fight them at sea. Livorius arrives at the battle unexpectedly. He defeats Soldán, then heals the wounded Hléskjöldur in India before sending him back to France. Livorius then meets his aunt Alduria, who suggests he return to France in disguise and stay the winter in NÃÂtÃÂðaâÂÂs household, to become better acquainted. Taking this advice, he gains NÃÂtÃÂðaâÂÂs confidence, disguised as a prince named Eskilvarður. One day, NÃÂtÃÂða asks him to look into her magical stones, where they see throughout the world, which is depicted in three parts. NÃÂtÃÂða then reveals that she had seen through LivoriusâÂÂs disguise as soon as he arrived. He proposes to NÃÂtÃÂða, she accepts, and their wedding is set for autumn. Ingi hears the news, and, still angry and humiliated, gathers an army against France. Livorius and Ingi fight, Livorius spares IngiâÂÂs life, and has his sister SýjalÃÂn heal Ingi. SýjalÃÂn and Ingi fall in love, and NÃÂtÃÂðaâÂÂs foster brother Hléskjöldur is matched with IngiâÂÂs sister ListalÃÂn. The saga ends with a triple wedding, and NÃÂtÃÂða and LivoriusâÂÂs son succeeds them as ruler of France.</blockquote>
The saga survives in 65 known manuscripts, though it is possible that others remain to be identified, particularly in North America.